LETTERS  OF 


lion.  William   Atkinson 


AND    orilER    CORRESPONDENTS    RELATIVE     TO    THE 


CARRABASSETT  AND  CANADIAN 


RAILWAY, 


iiiii!iMi:iiiiiMiiiiiiiiii!miiiiiiiiiiiiiHii!uiiimiiiiiiiiiiinMiiniiiiiiimiiiiimi!imiii 


ADVOCATE  JOB  PRINT: 

North  Anson,  Mainm. 
U.  S.  A. 

IS!"*. 


Ll) 


THE  QUEBEC  BRIDGE 


FROM   AN   AMERICAN   STANDPOINT. 


[  Quebec   Chronicle^ 


The  folloniug  letter  has  been  addressed 
to  a  gei)tlemau  in  this  city  by  the  Hon. 
William  Atkinson,  of  North  Anson, Maine, 
who  visited  this  city  in  December  last. 
It  is  very  interesting,  as  illustrating  how 
keenly  observant  our  neighbors  are  of  the 
progress  of  public  works  iu  Canada. 

To  judge  from  the  kindly  and  compli- 
mentary words  with  which  Mr.  Atkinson 
coucliideM  his  letter,  the  fishery  dispute 
lias  not  had  so  much  iJifluenco  on  the 
tniiids  of  .lie  people  of  Maine,  as  wo  have 
been  led  to  suppose. 

His  opinion  on  the  bridge  matter  is  of 
great  value,  as  being  that  of  one  of  the 
oldest  lailway  men  and  one  of  the  ablest 
legislators  in  Maine. 

North  Anson,  Maine,  U.  S.  A,, 

March  21.  1887. 

Dear  Sir,— I  am  extremely  gratified  at 
the  deep  interest  your  people  are  taking 
in  that  all  important  factor  in  their  future 
growth,  and  prosperity  and  commercial 
importance  of  your  picturesque  and  his- 
toric city— the  proposed  cantilever  bridge 
across  liie  St  Lawrence  nt  Quebec. 

The  pliotogruph  of  the  i)ridge  sent  me, 
and  the  (iescriptive  pamphlet,  with  pho- 
tographs and  explanations,  by  that  emi- 
nent engineer,  Sir  James  Bruuless,  of 
London,  pleased  all  who  have  examined 
tliem,  and  give  ua  hopes  of  the  (?frand  re- 
ality iu  the  near  future.  We  believe  the 
construction  of  the  cantilever  bridge  at 
Quebec  will  greatly  enhance  the  pros- 
pects and  value  of  the  international  high- 
way from  Wiscasaet,  Maine,  to  Quebec; 
and  that  the  oertainty  that  this  great 
work  will  be  completed  will  give  a  pow- 
erful impetus  to  this  great  iuternational 
line  from  the  unsurpassed  open  deep-sea 
harbor  of  Wisoasset  to  Quebec,  will  mate- 
rially eiihancH  the  vhIup  of  the  Quebec  and 


Lake  St.  Johu  Railway,  giving  that  im- 
portant line  unobstructed  connection  with 
Atlantic  ports  for  the  vast  amount  of 
lumber  contiguous  to  its  routo.and  bring- 
ing swarms  of  summer  travel  over  to  visit 
a  very  paradise  for  sportsmen  in  quest  of 
npeckled  trout  and  game,  iu  which  that 
region  is  known  to  abound. 

The  construction  of  the  bridge  will  give 
cheap  and  easy  communication  between 
the  great  railways  now  terminating  at 
Quebec,  representing  a  capital  of  more 
than  thiee  hundred  millioiis  of  dollars, 
and  enhance  the  importance  of  Quebec 
commercially  and  socially  and  as  a  Mecca 
for  summer  tourists,  beyond  conipatisou. 

The  importance  of  this  great  enterprise 
(truly  in  the  interest  of  commerce  and 
civilization)  ui't  alone  to  the  good  city  of 
Q'iel)ec,  nod  that  portion  of  the  Province 
of  which  Quebec  is  the  commercial  cen- 
ter and  dittributing  point,  but  to  the 
railways  centering  and  to  center  there 
3an  hardly  be  overestnTiated.  The  peo- 
ple of  your  city  and  Province,  and  the  in- 
telligent managements  of  the  great  rail- 
ways terminating  nt  Quebec,  no  doulit 
see  that  the  construction  of  this  bridge  is 
al)8olutely  necessitous,  and  simply  com- 
plemental  to  the  great  iron  and  sfeel 
structures  that  already  span  the  St.  [^aw- 
rence,  responsive  to  tlie  demands  of  c  "n- 
nierco.nnd  in  the  interest  of  an  enlighten- 
ed, progreMsive  and  Christian  civilization. 
The  prescience  and  enterprise  of  your 
people,  supported  by  the  great  railroad 
interests,  I  am  sure  are  equal  to  this 
great  work.  I  have  full  faith  in  its  speedy 
completion,  because  commerce  and  inter- 
communication demau<1  it;  and  I'ecause, 
as  I  told  you  last  December,  it  will  pos- 
sess elements  and  resources  that  will  en- 
sure its  financial  success. 

The  bridge  is  not  a  mere  work  of  local 
importance,  but  one  of  national  necessity, 
as  you  Oiiu  easily  see.  Halifax  has  an 
abiding  interest  in  its  construction;  and 
the  more  your  people  examine  land  dis- 
cuss it,  the  stronger  it  will  grow  in  its  fi- 
nancial, commercial  and  national  aspects, 
and  the  easier  it  will  be  to  procure  the 
needful  Qovernment  aid. 

The  completion  of  this  great  work  will 
add  another  laurel  to  the  brow  of  a  vigor- 
ous and  progressive  pe»>ple,  who  have  iu 
recent  years  and  comparatively  in  an  in- 
frtnt  stagp  ot   nationality',    astoni-'hed    the 


world,  aud  outdid  tliemselves  in  the  con- 
ception and  completion  of  great  enterpri- 
ses, iu  the  interests  of  commerce  and  civ- 
ilization- works  wliich  in  tbeir  mnguitudo 
and  importance,  and  iu  their  far-roacbing 
results,  commercially  and  socially  consid- 
ered, have  never  been  equalled  in  ancient 
or  modern  times,  by  a  people  so  young  or 
sparse  in  numbers,  never  snrpaBsed  by 
any  people  in  similar  fields  of  enterprisfs, 
in  any  age  of  the  world. 

Very  respectfully  ynnrs, 

Wm.  Atkinson.* 

The  Union  Advocate,  of  North  Anson, 
Maine,  iu  publishing  the  above  letter 
made  the  following  editorial  commenti: 

The  construction  of  the  Cantilever 
bridge  across  the  St.  Lawrence  at  Quebec 
would  be  an  earnest  of  the  purpose  of  the 
International  and  Quebec  railroad  t>)  find 
a  connection  by  railroad  direct  across  the 
State  of  Maine  to  the  Atlantic  coast;  and 
add  a  million  dollars  to  the  value  of  the 
Quebec  and  Wiscaisset  railroad  when 
built.  To  ahow  its  importance  to  the 
Quebec  and  Wiscasset  line,  Hon.  James 
D.  Scott,  manager  of  the  Quebec  and 
Lake  St.  John  Railway,  is  quoted  as  say- 
ing in  a  letter  addressed  to  Mr.  Atkinson 
that  he  had  an  orler  for  1000  car  loads 
of  lumber  from  the  city  of  Providence,  R. 
L,  wliicli  he  could  not  fill  because  he 
could  not  cross  the  St.  Lawrer.ce;  thft 
this  one  item  of  freight  would  have  paid 
the  interest  on  a  million  of  dollars— be- 
sides the  immense  travel  that  would  go 
tiver  this  mad. 


THE  BRIDGE. 


[  Quebec  C/tronicle.'] 


Letter  of  Hon.  Wm.  Atkinson,  a<ldro88- 
ed  to  a  gentleman  in  this  city. 

North  Anson.  Mk.,  April  20,  1887. 

Mv  Dear  Sir:— 1  soe  by  the  Chronicle 
that  your  people  are  full}'  alive  to  the  im- 
portance, yea  indispeusible  necessity  of 
the  bridge;  and  T  notice  with  deei?  inter- 
est the  intelligent  and  patriotic  action  of 
the  Quebec  Board  of  Trade. 

The  cogent  resolutions  they  adopted 
elucidate  the  whole  subject,  and  com- 
mend its  utility  and  importance  to  all  in- 
terested in  thi«  great  oommeroial,  nation- 
al and  international  enterprise. 

It  was  well  and  truly  said  at  that  inter- 
esting and  important  meeting  that  "the 
interprovincial  system  of  Canadian  rail- 
ways would  never  be  complete  without 
the  construction  of  this  bridge."  Time, 
developments  aud  the  imperious  demands 
of  commerce  and  intercommunication,  to 
say  nothing  of  possible  military  necessi- 
ties that  may  demand  rapid  communica- 
tion between  the  British  Isles  and  India, 
on  British  soil,  to  maintain  the  integrity 
of  a  great  Empire,  constantly  menaced  in 
Afghanistan  by  the  rapacity  of  the  Rus- 
sian Bear,  have  clearly  demonstrated  the 
truth  aud  weight  of  the  above  quotation. 
I  have  read  with  great  interest,  the  able 
and  appropriate  remarks  of  Mr.  Doboll 
and  Mr.  Owen  Murphy,  M.  P.  P.,  who, 
with  other  able  speakers,  have  evinced  a 
patriotism,  in  secular  affairs,  and  a  love 
of  their  native  or  adopted  city,  worthy  of 
the  ancient  Athenians  in  the  time  of 
Demosthenes.  The  honor  or  prosperity 
of  Quet)ec  can  never  sutfer  in  tiie  hands 
of  men  like  these,  aud  when  tlie  people 
of  the  Dominion  are  imbued  witii  their 
patriotic  and  far  reachinq;  ideas  the  cotn- 
pletion  of  the  oantilover  bridge  will  b((  as- 
sured. Ydu  have  my  best  wishes  for 
Bpoedy  and  complete  success  in  tliis  lau<l- 
able  undertaking,  so  deeply  fraught  with 
the  interests  of  commerct;  and  civilization 
and  with  the  future  prosperity  and    well- 


9 


being  of  yonr  pictnro8(ine   an<l  bistorio 
city. 

I  liopo  80011  to  see,  by  the  nuited  and 
Well  directed  eltorts  of  frieiida  of  the  line, 
file  iuteruiitioiinl  railway  from  Wincnsset. 
to  Quebec  completed,  witli  free  iugress  to 
Quebec  over  a  steel  oaiitilover  bridge.  I 
also  hope  and  expect  800U  to  aee  a  new 
reciprocal  commercial  treaty  entered  into 
between  the  groat  Repuldic  and  our  Do- 
rniiiiou  neighbor.^,  ot  kindred  blood  and 
tongue,  fliat  siiall  bo  fair  and  just  to  both 
countries,  liberal  and  reciprocal  in  its 
terms,  putting  tho  fishery  dispute,  with 
ail  its  disturbing  aspects,  at  rest— a  trea- 
ty that  shall  make  iis  one  people  coai- 
niercially  and  socially — ensure  peaoG.coni- 
niity  and  good  wiU,  and  a  treaty  that 
hIuiU  negative  that  splendid  utterance  of 
Cuwper's  ; — 

"Jvand;!  inteMCcted  by  a  narrow  frith  iilihor  Cttcii 

other, 
Moiintaiin  interposeil  make  enemies  of  nations; 
Who  luul  else  like  kinJreil   drops  hecii   iiiinirled 
into  one." 

I  have  great  faith  that  the  Cabinets  at 
Washington  and  Loudon,  aided  by  wise 
and  prudent  actiofi  at  Ottawa,  will  lake 
such  action  on  the  fishery   dispute   a^    to 


sfatesmnnship  of  tiie  age,  guided  by  the 
liglits  and  experience  of  tlie  past,  will  re- 
volt against  war,  and  when  diplomacy 
fails  will  resort  to  ari)itration. 

Pardon  my  digression,  and  excuse   this 
hasty  and  desultory  scroll  and  believe  me, 
Yonrs  very  respectfully, 

Wm,  Atkinson. 


OPINIONS  OF  THP:  Pi':OPLE. 


[  Quebec   Chronicle^ 


Noam  Anson,  Ma.,  Oct.  8,  18S8. 

Dear  Sir,— I  take  the  liberty  to  en- 
close to  you  a  copy  of  the  Engineer's  re- 
port of  a  reconnoissauoo  of  the  Carrabas- 
sett  and  Canadian  Railway,  made  iu  Au- 
gust last,  which  will  s[)eak  for  itself; — 

Our  desire  is  to  connect  the  beautiful 
Kennebec  Valley  n.id  all  of  its  thriving 
towns  and  manufacturing  villages,  the 
capital  ot  the  State,  Augusta,  and  the  nn- 


surpassst'd  open  deep  sea  harbor  of  Wis 
make  plain  the  provisions  of  the  treaty  of  oasset,  Maine,  with  the  Quebec  Central 
1818,  and  as  shall  remove  mauy  of  the  Railway  and  the  city  of  Quebec,  and  with 
regtrictions  upon  commerce  between  the  the  Canadian  Pacitio  Railway  and  the 
Dominion  and  the  United  States  of  Am-  Northwest,  l)y  the  shortest,  cheape  ,t,  and 
erica  ;  and  now  is   a   propitious   time   to    most  feasible  line  of  railway  that   can    be 


do  it 

Trifling  causes  have  led  to  wars  ever 
since  the  carrying  away  of  Helen,  de- 
stroyed cotumerce,  devastated  homes, 
slew  thousands  of  men  in  the  prime  of  life, 
l)rought  grief  and  sorrow  to  thousauils   of 


found  lor  that  purpose. 

After  making  a  careful  examination  of 
the  line  from  North  .A.usou  to  the  Forks 
of  Kennebec,  Moose  River  Bridge  and 
tlio  boundary,  also  an  equally  careful  ex- 
amination of  the  Carrabassett  Ac  Canadian 


happy  homes  and  piled  up  mountains   of  line  from  North  Anson  up   the   Carrabas- 

national  debt  for  posterity  to   pay.      The  sett  and  Dead  River  valleys  to  the    boiin- 

great  Anglo  Saxon   family,    inoontestibly  dary  south  of  Megantio  Lake,   thence   to 

the  greatest  people  on  earth,    capable   of  the  track  of  the  C.  P.  li.  at    the   foot    of 

being  the  arbiters   and   lawgivers   of   the  said  lake;  the  engineer   found   that    dis- 

world  ought  to  be  wise  enough    to   settle  tance,  grades,    economy   of  construo'ion, 


their  disputes  by  peaceful  methods,  and 
to  remember  what  followed  the  rupture 
of  the  treaty  ot  Amitnis,  and  the  needless 
l)lood  that   was  spilt  over   the    right   of 


and  maiutainance  and  cost  of  operation, 
all  clearly  indicated  that  the  Oarraliussott 
&  Canadian  line  has  a  great  pre-eminenoo 
over  the  line  up  the  Kennebec  valley,  for 


Hoarcli,  and  not  resort   to   proclamatious  the  purposes  above  named, 

of  noo-intercoursc,  the  next  step  t)    w.ar,  We  are  satisfied,  hero  iu  the  Kunnebeo 

over  a  few  codfish.  valley,  that  the  time  has  arrived,  and  that 

Such  a  spectacle  would    be   degradiuif  the  demands  of  oommorse  and  iuter-oom- 

to  the  civilization  and  Christianity  of   the  muuicntion  require  the    InDiieA'udc,  con- 

iiinoteenth  century — the  good  sense  of  the  atruotion  of  this  lino  of  railway  from  Wis- 

people,  thfi  commercial  and   tinnncial   iu-  oasset  harbor  to  Canada, 

tercsts   of   tin;   two   c  luntrics,     and     tin*  So  favor  ibly  was   the    British    (iovoru- 


meint  impressfid  with  the  nnpfiriority  of 
WiacasBet  harbor  ver  any  other  ou  the 
Atlantic  coant,  that  the  British  Adniiraity 
hail  a  hydrographic  and  typographic  sur- 
vey made  ct  that  harbor  and  its  approach- 
■  es  prior  to  the  American  Revohitiou  of 
177(5,  with  a  'iew  of  making  it  a  naval 
and  military  stronghold  on  this  continent; 
copies  of  that  survey  can  undoubtedly  be 
found  at  the  British  Admiralty  Ottice, 
Loudon.  The  United  States  Coast  Sur- 
vey found  it  to  be  the  best  harl)()r  on  the 
coast  of  Maine.  It  is  one  and  five-eighths 
miles  wide  at  its  entrance  and  for  ease 
aiid  safety  of  ingress  and  egress,  for  ships 
of  any  burden  and  at  all  seasons  of  the 
year,  it  has  no  ecjual  on  the  Atlantic 
coast.  It  has  a  depth  of  50  feet  at  low  wa- 
ter with  a  maximnm  rise  and  fall  of  fide 
of  ten  feet,  and  it  has  oftm  been  s'lid 
by  (j|d  ship-maaters,  acipiainted  with  the 
harbor,  fhut  the  '"Great  Eastern"  could 
come  in  there  (it  dead  low  water  and 
swing  at  her  moorings  wifh  perfect  safety, 
and  the  harbor  is  so  land-locked  that 
shipping  is  always  secure  from  gales  and 
HforiHH.  These  facts,  together  with  the 
fact  that  it  has  never  been  obstructe  1  by 
ice  at  any  time  withiif  the  memory  of  man 
and  its  proximity  to  the  great  Canadian 
Pacific  Railway  and  to  the  Quebec  Cen- 
tral Railway  and  the  city  of  Quebec,  it 
being  only  143  miles  from  Wiscasset  har- 
bor to  a  junction  with  the  Canada  Pa- 
cific Railway  al  the  foot  of  Megan  tic 
lake,  clearly  point  to  the  fact  that  the  un- 
surpassed open  deep-sea  harbor  of  Wis- 
casset must  be  in  the  near  future,  Iho 
point  of  ocenn  embarkation  for  the  great 
commerce  of  the  Canada  Pacific  Railway 
and  its  Western  connections,  and  for  the 
city  and  Province  of  Quebec  in  winter 
time. 

The  demand  for  short  and  cheap  lines 
of  land-transit  for  commerce  to  porta  of 
safety  and  excellence  for  great  coinmer- 
cial  purposes,  clearly  points  to  this  short 
and  direct  Hue  of  railway  for  a  safe  and 
profitable  investment  of  capital,  and  I  de- 
voutly hope  that  your  people  will  give 
this  whole  project  eorly  and  critical  ex- 
amination, and,  if  they  will,  I  feel  certain 
that  they  will  conclude  to  meet  the  Oar- 
rabassett  and  Canadian  lino  at  the  boun- 
dary south  of  Megantio  lake. 

You  will  see  by  a  suitable  map  that  this 
liiie   is  the    Romploinout    of     the    great 


0.  P.  R.  and  all  its  western  couneo- 
tions,  for  an  ooeau  outlet  in  winter  time, 
and  when  the  cantilever  bridge  is  built 
across  the  river  St.  Lawrence  at  Quebec, 
as  it  surely  will  be,  it  will  also  be  the  com- 
plement of  the  "Boston  and  Quebec  Air 
Line"  and  .'t  *\\\  boom  your  grand  and 
historic  city  beyond  compare. 

The  engineer  who  made  the  reoonuois- 
sauce  was  instructed  to  asoerloin,  as  ac- 
curately as  possible,  the  height  above  the 
sea-level  where  each  line  would  cross  tho 
boundary,  and  he  found  that  the  )^oint 
where  a  line  up  the  Kennebeo  valley  would 
cross  was  4B0  feet  higher  than  the  point 
where  the  Carrabassett  and  Canadian 
line  will  cross  south  of  Megantic  Lake. 

A  line  was  surveyed  from  Skowhegan, 
Maine,  in  May,  1887,  up  the  Keiinebeo 
viilloy  to  a  junction  with  the  C.  P.  R.  near 
Moose  River  bridge,  and  tho  engineer  en- 
countered a  rise  of  1,120  feet  in  the  first 
twelve  miles  al)ove  the  Forks  of  Kenne- 
nebcc  r'ver  that  could  not  be  avoided. 

The  super-elevation  of  the  boundary, 
the  immense  grades  to  t)e  surmounted, 
a!i<l  heavy  work  to  be  euoountercd  on  the 
Kennebec  line,  together  with  tho  fact 
that  this  line  nill  increase  the  mileage 
between  the  two  objective  points  by 
more  than  80  miles  on  every  round  trip, 
and  taking  into  consideration  the  differ- 
ence ill  grades  and  consecpient  tensile  pow- 
er required,  the  difference  in  distance 
will  closely  approximate  100  miles. 

These  potent  factors  in  the  compara- 
tive merits  of  these  two  lines  for  great 
highways  of  commerce  and  inter-oom- 
ninnicatioij  for  all  time,  between  two 
strong  and  enterprising  people  o'l  kindred 
blood  and  tongue,  should  be  carefully 
considered  l)eforo  money  is  expended  on 
either  of  them,  for  only  one  is  needed, 
and  one  must  be  built    and    will    surely 

pa.y- 

Every  step  towards  cheap  transporta- 
tion is  a  step  towards  national  and  indi- 
viduil  prosperity,  and  short  and  cheap 
lines  of  transportation  are  important  fac- 
tors iu  tho  solution  of  that  great  problem 
so  long  sought  by  philanthropists,  "How 
best  to  procure  cheap  bread  for  tlie  toil- 
ing millions." 

Men  of  years  and  nndoratanding,  hav- 
ing the  public  interest  at  heart,  iu  loca- 
ting great  lines  of  inter-communication 
that  must  be  pathways  of  commerce  and 


highways  of  nations  for  all  time,  sbouki 
keep  steadily  in  mind,  bow  can  snob  lines 
be  located  and  constructed  so  as  to  bear 
lightest  on  commerce,  produce  the  great- 
est public  good,  and  afford  a  fair  return 
for  the  capital  invested. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

Wm.  Atkinson. 


THE  QUEBEC   AND    MEGANTIC 
RAILROAD. 


Mr.  Atkinson  further   Writes  Con- 
cerning THE  Great  Enterprise. 


The  Union  Advocate,  of  North  Anson, 
Maine,  in  publishing  the  above  letter 
made  the  following  editorial  comment: 

We  publish  in  this  issue  au  able  letter 
from  Wm.  Atkiuson,  of  this  village, to  the 
Quebec  Moruiug  Chronicle  ou  the  subject 
of  the  Carrabassett  and  Oauadian  Rail- 
way. This  letter  fittingly  sets  out  the  great 
advantages  of  this  route  over  any  othor 
contemplated  line  of  intercommuni'^atiou 
between  the  Canadian  Pacific  Bailwaj', 
the  Quebec  Oeut'*al  Railway,  the  city  of 
Quebec,  and  the  Atlantic  coast.  The  re- 
port of  engineer  flancox'  recouuoissauce 
of  the  Carrabassett  route  shows  it  to  be 
not  only  the  shortest, easiest  grades,obeap- 
est  and  most  feasible  route  that  can  be 
found  for  that  purpose,  but  far  superior 
to  the  contemplated  line  up  the  Kenne- 
bec valley  to  a  junction  with  the  Canada 
Pacific  at  Moose  River.  Mr.  Atkinson 
points  out  the  potent  factors  in  the  com- 
parative merits  of  these  two  lines  with 
great  clearness.  Next  Tuesday  the  Car- 
rabassett corporators  meet  in  Augusta  to 
organize  ihe  company.  Let  ns  hope  that 
the  project  will  be  lituuched  under  favor- 
able audpices  and  prosecuted  with  energy 
and  success. 


\^Quebec   Chronicle^ 


Dear  Sir,— I  notice  in  your  esteemed 
paper  ot  the  13th  iust.,  an  article  headed, 
"The  Lumber  Trade,"  in  which  you  say: 

"Steamers  nre  now  being  loaded  at 
Halifax  with  spruce  deals,  which  are  be- 
ing shipped  in  large  quantities  from  Point 
Levis,  700  miles  by  rail." 

You  further  say: — "On  this  side  of  the 
river,Quebeo  merchants  hold  largo  stocks 
of  deals,  which  could  be  turned  into  mon- 
ey in  the  same  way,  had  wo  a  bridge, 
but  for  all  practical  purpc  ses,  Quebec, 
instead  of  being  the  western  terminus  of 
the  Intercolonial  railway,  is  as  far  away 
from  it  as  Toronto.  In  fact,  a  oar-load 
of  deals  could  be  shipped  more  cheaply 
from  Toronto  to  HaUfax  in  winter  than  it 
could  from  Quebec.  How  long  is  this 
condition  of  things  to  last?" 

Your  question  is  a  cogent  and  impor- 
tant one,  not  only  to  the  city  and  Prov- 
ince of  Quebec,  and  to  the  great  railroad 
interests  centering  there,  representing 
some  hundreds  of  millions  of  capital,  but 
to  the  weal,  dignity,  and  good  faith  of  the 
Dominion,  as  well;  also  to  the  consumers 
of  that  article  of  prime  necessity,  lumber, 
not  Guly  in  the  British  Isles,  but  to  all 
New  England.  As  I  understand  it,  the 
faith  of  the  Dominion  is  pledged  by  the 
Dominion  Act,  passed  some  twenty  years 
ago,  to  construct  a  railway  from  the  city 
of  Halifax  to  Quebec,  and  such  a  line  of 
railway,  long  since  comph^ted  to  Point 
Levis,  must  necessarily  include  a  bridge 
to  reach  Quebec;  and,  if  I  have  read  your 
paper  aright  Miese  last  years,  the  author> 
ities  at  Ottawa  take  this  view  of  the  Gov- 
ernment's obligation,  and  wilt  at  the  com* 
ing  session,  render  the  Bridge  Company 
such  material  aid  as  will  insure  the  speedy 
completion  of  this  great  and  beneliceut 
enterprise,  ho  ijeeply  fraught  with  the 
commercial  interests  of  Quebec,  and  with 


6 


tliR  convoiiicnce  niid  iiBofiilnnm  of  tho 
■  railroads  centering  there,  and  to  oom- 
meroe  and  iuterootnmunioation  generHlly. 
The  beuetits  accruing  from  tbe  comple- 
tion of  the  proposed  cantilever  bridge 
across  the  St.  Lawrence  at  Que)>ec,  will, 
I  am  coutident,  fully  meet  the  most  san- 
guine  expectations  of  its  friends, and  when 
oonr.pleted,  it  will  be  a  standing  invitation 
to  »he  Kennebec  valley  and  to  Maine, 
mut'j,  it  is  true,  but  grand,  impressive 
and  stupeadoos  in  its  massive  strength, 
and  in  the  beauty  and  symmetry  of  its 
;t)roportions,  asking  them  to  complete  a 
line  of  railway  from  tbe  unsurpassed, open 
deep-sea  harbor  of  Wiscasset,  via  Augus- 
ta, North  Anson  and  the  beautiful  Oarra- 
bassett  and  Dead  Biver  valleys  to  the 
boundary  line  south  of  Megantio  Lake, 
and  inviting  the  rich  and  enterprising 
owners  of  the  Quebec  Oeutral  railway  in 
London,  England, to  meet  us  at  that  point, 
to  accomodate  the  vast  commerce  and 
summer  travel  from  Maine  and  New  Eng- 
land, and  the  commerce  of  Uie  Canada 
Pacific  railway  in  winter  time  that  must 
and  will  seek  an  oceau  embnrkatiou  at 
WiHoasset  harbor. 

This  great  enterprise  in  its  entirety, 
from  Quebec  to  Wiscasset  tnppiug  the 
great  0.  P.  B.  at  tbe  foot  of  Megantic 
Lake  aud  affording  its  vast  future  com- 
merce and  all  its  western  cuiineotions 
such  a  safe  and  commodious  outlet  in 
winter  time,  affords  better  aud  safer  in- 
vestment for  capital  on  a  large  scale  than 
any  similar  enterprise  ou  this  continent. 
Tbe  affirmative  of  this  proposition  must 
be  admitted  by  candid  men  who  will  ex- 
amine it  carefully  in  all  its  bearings.  The 
value  of  the  property  will  be  constantly 
augmenting  as  the  popalation  and  business 
increases^and  as  tbe  va-tt  and  fertile  coun- 
tries tributary  to  it  are  settled  and  devel- 
oped, dependent  as  these  communities 
will  be  in  winter  time  for  a  aafe  aud  con- 
venient Atlantic  port  for  their  export  and 
import  trade.  I  have  been  observant  of 
the  zeal  and  nnited  and  well  directed  ef- 
forts of  yonr  leading  oitizeuB  in  this  great 
enterprise  ao  vital  to  yonr  beautiful  oity, 
as  chronicled  from  time  to  time  in  your 
excellent  paper,  aud  have  never  doubted 
their  altimate  stteoess  in  their  grand  and 
heroic  straggle  for  tbe  aggrandizement 
of  their  oity  and  province  and  in  tbe  in- 
terests of  peace  and  commerce  for  all  time; 


and  especially  so  when  they  obtained  the 
assurance  of  your  Prime  Minister,  Sir 
John  McDonald,  of  his  sympathy  aud 
support.  8ir  John  has  demonslruted  as 
well  as-auy  man  living,  "that  peace  bath 
its  victories  as  well  as  war."  His  great 
and  successful  efforts  iu  the  aid  of  the 
Dominion,  and  for  the  promotion  of  great 
works  for  the  benefit  of  commerce  and 
civilization,  place  him  among  the  fore- 
moat  men  of  this  age.  The  men  who 
have  been  foremost  iu  this  great  and  be- 
neficent enterprise,  have,  it  may  be, 
been  "building  better  than  they  know," 
aud  it  will  take  future  generations  to  fully 
realize  and  appreciate  tbe* importance  of 
their  work.  Build  tbe  bridge  at  Quebec, 
and  complete  the  railroad  line,  as  above 
described,  to  Wiscasset  harbor,  and  you 
will  reach  a  good  shipping  port  for  your 
lumber  by  only  250  miles  of  land  transit 
instead  of  700  miles,  a  saving  of  450  miles 
which  at  low  freight  rates  will  amount  to 
a  good  profit  to  the  shipper.  If  the  road 
in  question  were  completed,  the  luoiber 
in  winter  time  from  the  Quebec  and  Lake 
St.  John  railway  would  afford  a  large 
item  of  freight;  this  together  with  the  lo- 
cal business  on  the  line,  tbe  importations 
from  abroad,  and  the  business  from  tbe 
C  P.  B.  would  crowd  one  track  to  its  ut- 
most capacity.  The  summer  traffic  on 
this  line  would  be  simply  imniecse.  Tbe 
attractions  offered  by  tbe  city  of  Quebec 
aud  its  picturesque  surroundings — tbe 
St.  Lawrence,  the  Saguenay,  and  tbe 
Montmorency,  and  tho  unequalled  attrac- 
tions to  sportsmen  and  to  tbe  disciples 
of  Isaac  Waltou  ou  the  Quebec  and  Lake 
St.  John's  railway  would  all  contribute  to 
the  success  of  the  line.  Tbe  completion 
of  this  great  line  of  communication  would 
save  iu  winter  time  to  shippers  from  Que- 
bec and  vicinity  annually  a  sum  Buifioieut 
to  pay  tbe  interest  on  tbe  cost  of  tbe  can- 
tilever bridge,  and  add  largely  to  the 
amounts  and  profits  of  your  exportationa. 
A  saving  of  450  miles  of  land  transit 
is  an  item  worth  the  consideration  of  » 
community  like  yours,  largely  engaged  iu 
exportation  of  bea^y  products  like  lum- 
ber, and  a  proportioaal  saving  would  be 
made  on  your  imports  from  England,  the 
West  Indies  aud  elsewhere.  Hence  tbe 
inducement  for  your  merchants  and  baa* 
in  ess  men  tn  push  tbe  bridge  and  tbe 
Quebec  Central  railway  to  tbe  boundary. 


The  nniqne  position  of  the  liue,  the  im- 
portnnt  ooDnef^tiona  raclinting  tbro'igb 
Canada  and  to  the  great  North-west, to  the 
Pacifio  ooeaa  atid  by  steamer  to  China 
and  Japan  and  the  close  proximity  of 
Wiecasset  harbor  to  Canada  and  the  great 
local  business  to  be  developed  along  the 
line,  all  point  to  the  financial  success  of 
this  great  enterprise. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

Wm.  Atkinson. 


OPINIONS  OF  THE  PEOPLE. 


[  Quebec   Chronicle.'] 


North  Anson,  Me.,  Sept.  23d,  1889. 

Dear  Sir, — I  notice  in  your  paper  of 
the  5th  instant,  an  article  headed  "The 
Bridge"  in  which  you  mention  the  impor- 
tance of  an  Air  Line  Railway  from  the 
city  of  Jostou  to  Quebec  via  the  B.  &  M. 
Railway  and  its  connections  from  Boston 
to  Sherbrooko,  thence  by  tho  Quel)eo 
Central  Railway  from  Sherbrooke  to  Que- 
bec over  the  proposed  cintilever  bridge 
to  Lake  St.  John  via  the  Quebec  and 
Lake  St.  John  Railway,  thus  opening 
that  important  lumbering,  spurting,  and 
agricultural  region  to  all  New  England 
niid  the  outside  world.  I  am  rejoiced  to 
see  that  the  attention  of  the  public  and 
especially  suoii  men  bb  James  T.  Fnrber, 
Esq.,  general  manager  of  the  Bo^iton  & 
Maine  Railway  and  its  systems  of  roads, 
is  directed  to  the  importance  of  the  speedy 
oompletiou  of  the  cantilever  bridge  at 
Quebec  to  give  the  outside  world  railway 
connection  with  Quebec  and  the  region  of 
country  to  the  north  of  it.  The  opinion 
of  such  a  man  as  Mr.  Furber  on  the  im- 
portance and  utility  of  this  enterprise  is 
certainly  of  great  value  and  must  be  en- 
oouragiog  to  its  friends.  The  bridge  aa  I 
have  often  said  is  sure  to  be  built,  its  feas- 
ibility ba4  been  nettled  by  actual  survey, 
its  utility  and  great  public  importance 
can  no  longer  be  ignored,  and  the  good 
faith  of  the  Dominion  is  pledged  by  the 
Dominion  Act  to  build  a  railway  from 
Halifax  to  the  city  of  Quebec  and  I  am 
sure  that  faith  will  be  kept  inviolata. 

The  utility  and  importance  of  the  bridge 
At  Quebec,  commercially  and  socially,  not 
only  to  Canada  and  the  Dominion,  but  to 


nil  New  England,  would  vastly  exceed  the 
limits  of  tL  is  short  epistle  to  discnas  but 
certain  it  is  it  would  forr .  another  bond 
of  nnion  between  two  great  families  of 
the  Anglo-Saxon  racj  that  must  have  a 
perpetual  tendency  to  peace,  commerce, 
interoommunication,  and  international 
good  will,  and  will  tend  to  negative  that 
splendid  uttereuce  of  Cowper's,  which  is 
as  true  in  modern  times  as  it  was  in  the 
barbarous  agee  of  tho  world: 

"Lands  intci-scctcd  by  a  narrow  frith  al)hnr  each 

other. 
Mountains  intcrposeil  malic  enemies  of  nations. 
Who  lind  else  like   kindred   drops  mingled  into 

one. 

I  notice  also  in  tlie  Chronicle  of  the  12th 
instant,  an  article  Ijeaded  "The  Short  Line 
through  New  Brunswick,"  in  which  the 
writer  s^ys:  The  comparative  distances 
from  Moui^eal  to  Halifax  would  be  as  fol- 
lows:— 

Via   Intercolonial  Railway 850  miles. 

Via  State  of  Maine  Short  Liue, 
Sherbrooke,  iMattawamkeag 
and  St.  John 758      " 

Qiielieo, River  du  Loup,  Edmund- 
stone  and  Monctou,  760      " 

From  Montreal  to  the  foot  of  Megantio 
Lake,  the  proposed  junction  of  the  Car- 
riibuHsett  and  Canadian  Railway  with  the 
Canadian  Pacific  is  about  170  miles,  sob- 
trnotiug  170  from  758  the  distance  from 
Montreal  to  Halifax  via  State  of  Maine 
Short  Line,  we  shall  have  588  miles  from 
the  proposed  junction  at  tho  foot  of  Me- 
gantio Lake  to  Halifax,  and  if  we  sub- 
tract 150  miles,  the  distance  from  the  foot 
of  Megantio  Lake  to  the  open  deep  sea 
harbor  of  Wisoasset,  we  shall  have  438 
miles  advantage  land  transit,  for  the  great 
ocean  bound  commerce  of  the  future  in 
winter  time  from  Canada  and  all  points 
west  in  favor  of  Wisoasset  over  Halifax; 
and  the  harbor  of  Wisoasset  on  the  estu- 
ary of  Sheepsoot  river  and  that  of  Booth- 
bay,  12  miles  below  aie  not  surpassed  by 
anv  cu  this  continent. 

'fhe  advantage  of  these  open  deep  sea 
harbors  over  Halifax  for  depots  of  the 
great  commerce  of  the  future  between 
the  British  Isles,  Canada,  and  the  great 
North-west,  is  too  obvious  to  need  argu- 
ment, and  their  great  natural  advantages 
are  asserting  themselves  and  must  be  rec- 
ognized and  utilized. 


8 


Natnral  conditious  give  marts  of  com- 
merce and  liuesof  transit  tbeir  supremacy. 
In  the  not  distant  future  tbis  proposed 
line  of  land  transit  from  ibe  foot  of  Me- 
gautic  Lake  to  Wiscasset  barbor  will  as- 
sert its  supremacy — not  by  reason  of  its 
advocates,  but  by  reason  of  its  intrinsic 
merits  for  a  great  patbway  of  commerce 
and  bigbway  of  nations  for  all  time  to 
come;  its  easy  grades,  cbeap  coufltruotion, 
its  important  and  extensive  railway  con- 
nections wben  it  reaobes  tbe  G.  P.  B.,nud 
its  unsurpassed  ocean  termini  at  WiRcas- 
set  and  Bootbbay  harbors  are  factors 
that  will  insure  its  success,  and  its  lasting 
utility  and  importance,  and  will  make  it  a 
safe  and  profitable  investment  for  capital 
on  long  time. 

I  have  shown  tbe  importance  of  tbis 
short  and  direct  line  for  a  winter  outlet 
for  tbe  city  and  Province  of  Quebec  in 
previous  articles  published  in  your  paper. 
I  was  recently  informed  by  a  Canadian 
gentleman  that  parties  iu  Canada  bad  giv- 
en notice  of  tbeir  intention  to  ask  the  next 
Parliament  for  an  independent  charter  for 
a  railroad  from  Point  Levis  to  the  foot  of 
Megnntic  Lake,  they  ought  to  extend 
their  request  so  as  to  meet  the  Carrabaa- 
sett  and  Canadian  line  at  the  boundary. 

In  the  near  future  tbe  Quebec  Central 
or  some  other  line  from  Quebec  must  of 
Li^cessity  meet  tbe  Carrabassett  and  Ca- 
nadian line  at  the  boundary. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

Wm.  Atkinson. 


EDITORIAL  COMMENT. 
Wo  print  in  this  i.-tsue  a  letter  from 
Wm,  Atkinson  published  iu  tbe  Quebec 
Morning  Chronicle,  again  discaseing  tbe 
merits  of  tbe  Carrabassett  and  Canadian 
Railway  as  a  thoroughfare  from  Montreal 
to  tbe  Atlantic  seaboard  at  Wiscasset.  He 
shows  that  WiHca8<)et  is  438  miles  nearer 
Montreal  over  the  Carrahnssott  lino  than 
it  is  to  Halifax  over  tbe  Maine  Short  Line, 
via  Mattawamkeag  nnd  St.  John.  A  sav- 
ing of  438  miles  of  lacd  transit  for  the 
immonso  oommercA  of  Canaclji  nnd  the 
Wf'st  on  every  train  that  runs  over  the 
road  for  all  time   to  oomo,  will  ultimately 


master  the  problem  and  make  tbis  ibe 
popular  line  for  tbe  future  commerce  of 
Canada  and  the  great  Nortb-west,  to  the 
Atlantic  and  thence  to  Europe.  Tbe  in- 
trinsic merits  of  tbis  line  over  all  other 
lines  that  has  or  can  be  projected  will 
make  itself  felt  in  time  and  will  be  util- 
ized, whatever  else  may  be  done.  —  Union 
Advocate,  (North  Anson,  Maine.) 


LEWISTON  BOARD  OF  TRADB:. 


IN  RESPONSE  TO  HON.    WM.     ATKINSON  S    AR- 
GUMENT FOR  THE  CARRABASSETT  &  - 
CANADIAN  ROUTE. 


The  Lewiston  Board  of  Trade  and  tbe 
Auburn  Board  ot  Trade  held  a  joint  meet- 
ing at  the  rooms  of  the  Lewiston  Board, 
and  iistened  to  an  address  by  the  Hon.  ^ 
Wm.  Atkinson  of  North  Anson,  upon  the 
subject  of  the  proposed  Quebe-J  Central 
and  Cauauian  Pacific  Railroad  outkt  to 
the  sea  across  tbe  State  of  Maine.  Mr. 
Atkinson  spoke  for  about  an  hour  and  a 
quarter  and  was  liberally  applauded.  At 
tbe  conclusion  of  bis  speech,  remarks 
were  made  by  Messrs.  Talbot,  Barker, 
and  Garcelon.  Mr.  Atkinson  was  unan- 
imously made  an  honorary  member  of 
tbe  Board  of  Trade  and  tbe  matter  that 
be  had  presented  was  referred  to  a  oom> 
raittee  on  railroads,  who  have  prepared 
the  following  special  report  : 

Report  of  the  committee  on  railroads 
to  whom  was  referred  tbe  matter  of  the 
Carrabassett  and  Canadian  Railway  pre- 
senteii  to  tbe  liewiston  Board  of  Trade 
on  the  evening  of  the  16tb  iust  ,  l)y  H(Ui. 
Wm.  Atkinson  of  North  Anson,  Mo.,  in  a 
clear  and  comprehensive  niannor  in  ifa' 
commercial,  financial,  and  social  Bspeofs, 
abowing  with  unansweraltle  argumonta 
its  great  utility  and  importance  to  the 
lower  Kennebec  vallev,  the  unsurpassed 
open  deep  sea  harbors  ot  WiHcnsset  nnd 
Bootbtmy.  and  as  a  feeder  to  tllD  Maino 
Central,  Boston  &   Maine,  ond  Soraersi't 


9 


Bnilronds,  also  its  importance  to  the  mau- 
'  iifacturing  oitios  of  Lewiston  aud  Auburn, 
and  the  towns  in  Franklin  aud  Somerset 
counties  ooniiguoua  to  its  line. 

From  Doaps  and  reports  of  H.  A.  Ha.>- 
cox,  engineer,  it  appears  that  the  Carra- 
bassett  <Si:  Canadian  railroad  from  the  foot 
,.  of  Megantio  Lake  to  the  above  named 
harbors  will  be,  when  completed,  the 
complement  of  the  great  Canadian  Pacif- 
ic railway  aud  alt  its  western  connections 
including  the  cities  of  Miuneapolis  and 
Duluth  aud  must  inevitably  attract  to  it 
an  ocean  bound  commerce  that  would 
make  it  pay  from  the  start,  aud  will,  in 
the  no  distant  future  require  a  double 
track  to  accommodate  the  great  business 
of  the  line. 

Mr.  Atkinson  also  stated  that  it  was  434 
miles  nearer  from  the  foot  of  Megantic 
Lake  to  Wiscassot  harbor  than  from  that 
point  to  the  city  of  Halifax,  He  also 
showed  that  the  C.  &  C.  Hue  from  its 
unique  position  possessed  great  natural 
advantages  over  a  line  up  the  Kennebec 
valley  via  The  Forks  ni  the  Kennebec 
and  Moose  River  ;  that  it  would  save  one 
hundred  miles  on  every  round  trip  for  the 
great  commerce  of  the  future;  would  avoid 
♦he  immense  rise  of  1120  feet  in  the  first 
12  miles  from  The  Forks  of  the  Keune- 
beo  river  and  would  also  avoid  the  super- 
elevation of  420  feet  above  where  the 
0,  &  0.  line  would  cross  the  boundary 
south  of  Megantic  Lake,  and  showed  by 
Mr.  Hancox's  report  that  the  0.  <t  C.  lino 
was  a  much  easier  and  cheaper  line  to 
Construct  aud  maintaiu  aud  will  devel- 
op much  more  local  business. 

Mr.  A.  also  stated  that  the  proposed 
cantilever  bridge  across  the  St.  Lawrence 
at  Quebec  is  sure  to  be  built  in  the  not 
distant  future,  which  will  give  us  an  un- 
broken and  direct  lino  l)y  rail  from  Bos- 
ton, Portland,  Lewiston,  Auburn  and 
Farraington  through  the  CHrral)a88elt  and 
Dead  River  valleys  over  the  Quebec  Cen- 
tigil  Railway  to  the  historic  city  of  Quebec, 
thence  by  the  Quebec  it  Lake  St.  John 
Railway  already  constructed  to  the  beau- 
tiful Lake  St.  John,  190  miles  north  of 
Quebec,  the  headwaters  <^f  the  wonderful 
Sagawan  River.  Other  factn  of  interest 
to  posterity  aud  the  great  commerce  of 
the  future  too  numerous  to  mention  in 
this  report  were  clearly  aud  ably  present- 
ed.    Thoreforo  your  committee    having 


carefully  considered  the  matter  referred 
to  them,  respectfully  submit  the  follow- 
iug  : 

Jiesulved,  That  the  Lewiston  Board  of 
Tra  le,  ever  miuiuul  of  the  great  public 
welfare  as  well  as  that  of  our  city,  most 
emphatically  endorHO  and  recommend  the 
immediate  construction  of  the  Carral)aH 
sett  (fe  Canadian  Railway  line,  believing  it 
to  be  for  the  best  interest  of  our  beloved 
State  of  Maine,  her  numerous  railroads, 
her  manufacturing  and  couimeroial  inter- 
ests, our  Canadian  neighbors  and  the 
great  Northwest. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

A.   B.   NEAIiY, 

0.  I.  Barkek, 
A.  Garcelon, 
J.  N.  Wood,  ', 

Wm.   H.  NEWRLTi,  I 

V.  Nazaire  Payette,   j 
R.  C.  Reynolds,  | 

A.  L,  T.'  liROT,  ) 


Committee 

on 
Railroads. 


EDITORIAL  COMMENT. 
We  print  in  this  issue  the  doings  of  the 
Lewiston  and  Auburn  Boards  of  Trade 
at  a  meeting  held  last  week.  Wm  Atkin- 
son, Esq.,  of  this  village  had  been  invited 
to  address  the  Boards  on  the  subject  of 
the  Oarrabasselt  Railroad.  The  meeting 
was  well  atteuded  and  Mr.  Atkinson  has 
awakened  an  interest  in  this  important 
enterprise.  Well  it  may,  for  no  city  in 
Maine  is  more  interested  in  the  construc- 
tion of  this  railroad  than  Lewiston.  That 
city  is  situated  in  the  central  business 
part  of  the  State  on  almost  an  air  line 
from  the  Canadian  Pacitio  at  Lake  Me- 
gantic, P.  Q.  to  the  opon  deep  sea  har- 
bors of  the  Atlantic  coast,  on  the  shorteht 
poesible  line — equal  to  a  hundred  miles 
shorter  on  every  round  trip— and  is  the 
natural  distributing  point  for  the  traffic 
over  the  road,  to  Portland  aud  Boston  on 
the  west,  and  Bath,  Wisoasset  and  Ban- 
gor on  the  east.  The  rcFolutiou  passed 
at  this  meeting  indicates  that  the  business 
men  ot  Lewiston  see  that  the  Carrabassett 
A   Canadian    railroad     as    contemplated 


in 

would  bo  of  Rrnftt   honnfit   to   tlmir   oity.  Ji.irbor,  in  oxtrnmoly  doflirfiliio  to  tnp   iUc 

So  it  wouhl  1)0,  but  no  loss  benefit  to   tlio  great  Uomiuion  nrtory  of   conmiorce   mid 

»Stuto  nud  to  tbe   f?reat  commercial  inter-  travel  at  the  foot  of  Megantic  Lake,   and 

eats  of  the  West  aa  well.— f/nton   Advo-  thus  to  bring   Maine  into  near  relationa 

nafr,  (North  Ansoo,  Me.)  with   four  or  five   millions  of  Canadian 

— people,  18  an  enterprise  so  manifestly  for 

IMPORTANT  RAILROAD  ENTERPRISE.  the  intercfits  of   Maine  as  to  re(]uiro  no 
elaborate  argnment.      DitFeront  govern- 

[Tl.fi  followinjr  m-ticic  from  the  Daily  Kcnne-   nient  si.rveya,  both  British  and  American, 
Iiec  Journal  ol  .Ian  18,  1889,  waslioin  II()n..lolm  -^   '  ' 

L.  Sicvcns,  piiliiical  editur  of  that  iiapor,   at  beginni'ig   back  more  than    a    centnry, 

l.rcscnt  Mim^^.To^tholI.  S.  A.  to  > j;"";l['J!;  i    prove  Wiscasset  to  have  one  of  the   deep- 
lonuci'lv    MiiiisicM-  to  the   Ar^'Oiitinc   Koinilthe,    »  ' 

ami  alHo  to  .Sweden  and  Norway.]  est  and  finest  liarborK  iu  North   America. 

The  immense  magnitude    and  rapidity  To  bring  a  branch  of  the  Canadian  Pacif- 

with  which  railroad  enterprisoii  have  been  ic  to  that  harbor  will  not  only  bo  of   groat 

pushed  forward  in  other  States  in  the  last  advantage  to  Lincoln  county,  as   wt^ll   as 

f(!W  year.s  Imve  tended  to  overshadow  and  to  the  sections  of  country  through    wiiicli 

cause  us  to  overlook   the   importanua   of  it  immediately  passes  to   the   cities   and 

thoso  in  our  own  midst.     One  of  the  most  towns  on  the  Knox  and  Lincoln   road,    as 

uni((i)e,  feasible,    and   attractive   railroad  well  as  to  Tlath,  IJrnnsviok,  Portland  and 

undertakings  ever  brought  to   tlio   atteii-  to   all   the   principal   lines   of  the  Maine 

tion  of  the  people  of  Maine,   is   the   pro-  Central,  and  it  can  also  connect  with    the 

posed   lino  from  the   Megantic  Ijake   in  Franklin  county  road  and  givo   easy    ac- 

Canada,   down    the   bountiful   valleys   of  o^as  to  Lewiston,  Auburn  and  the  Andros- 

Dcad    River  and    Carrabassett   to   North  coggiu.  valley.     In  the  broadest  and    best 

Anson,  thence   through    tho  counties   of  sense  it  would  bo  a  road   for   the   general 

Somerset,  Kennebec  and  Lincoln   to  the  welfare  of  tlie  State. 

unrivalled  harbor  and  old  commercial  Of  the  several  routes  proposed  to  bring 
town  of  WiscasBet.  No  unprejudiced  to  Maine  from  the  Canadian  Pacific  the 
citizen  of  Maine  who  will  give  careful  greatest  possible  ad vani-iges  at  the  short- 
consideration  to  all  the  readily  accessible  est  distance  and  the  least  expeuse,the  route 
facts,  who  will  examine  the  map,  and  from  North  Anson  through  the  Carrabas- 
read  the  recently  published  report  of  the  Hett  and  Dead  River  valleys  is  clearly  the 
civil  engineer,  Henry  A.  Hanoox,  can  one  entitled  to  tho  preference,  and  that 
fail  to  he  struck  with  the  importance  of  which  would  most  certainly  secure  the  at- 
this  route  to  the  general  interests  of  the  tention  and  oidist  the  powerful  financial  en- 
State  aa  well  aa  of  the  towns  more  imme-  courgementof  the  Canadian  PHoifio  mana- 
diately  adjacent  to  the  proposed  road.  gera.   Mr.  Haiicox  in  his  clear  and  adinira- 

It  is  well  known  to  the  public   tliat  the  i,|f,  report  of  the  reconnoissance  presents  in 

great  Canadian  Pacific  is   completed  and  the  following  terms  the   roa"ona   in    fav* 

in  operatiiui,  and  that  tlio   Eastern    outlet  „f  the  Carrabassett  route  : 

of  that  continental  highway  is  at  Halifax.  First,  by  its  geographical  position    it   is 

It  is  nearlv  aa  well  known  that  the  dis-  moat  fnvorablv  situated  for   reaching    for 

tan^eand  winter  obstruction  from  Quebec  »'»'  «""»»  '""•»••  weatern  busineaH    .leatine.l 

,-  ,.„                                      ,  •       .1            .  for  the  Atlantic  seaboard,    and    no   other 

to    Halifax  are   so  great,  making  the  coat  ^.^^^^^  j^^^  ^^^^   ,,^.,,„    projecte.l   or   can   be 

of  many  kinds  of  freight  ao  heavy,  that   n    constructed  on  any  other  route   in    Maine 
much  shorter  route  to  a  deep  and  capacious    that  will  offer  ao  short   and   direct   a   line 


II 


from  the  Canadian  Panific  Railway  i.»  her 
navip,ftb!o  harbors. 

Secouf],  ita  general  course  from  North 
Amsou  to  the  Megautio  Lake  is  praotioally 
aii  air  line  that  not  only  materially  ahort- 
(ihs  the  distance  betwei-n  these  points  but 
Bupplements  its  otherwise  favorable  posi- 
tion. Considering  the  fact  that  it  passes 
oblicjuely  through  a  mountain  range  it  is 
rare  that  conditions  combine  to  favor  so 
direct  a  route.  When  compared  with  the 
l)ropo8ed  extension  of  the  Kennebec  valley 
it  is,  to  use  a  geometrical  expression,  ap- 
l)roximatoly  the  hypothenuse  of  a  right 
angle  triangle  formed  by  the  intersection 
of  the  Kennebec  route  at  Moose  river 
with  the  Canadian  Pacific  as  produced 
eastward  from  Megautio  Lake,  and  that 
It  is  many  miles  shorter  is  shown  from 
the  following  approximate  figures  : 

Distance  from  Megautic  Lake  to  Moose 
river  forty-five  miles.  Moose  River  to 
North  Ausnu  via  Kennebec  valley,  seven- 
ty-two  mile''  Total  distance  from  Me- 
gautic to  North  Anson  via  Moose  River 
and  Kennebec  valleys,  one  hundred  and 
seventeen  miles.  Total  distance  from 
Megantic  Lake  to  North  Anson  via  Oar- 
rabassett  and  Dead  River  route,  seventy- 
live  miles,  di'i'ereuce  in  favor  of  Oarra- 
buHsett  and  Dead  Rivur  route,  forty  two 
miles. 

Third,  tiio  grades  would  be  lighter, 
HJiorter,  and  much  less  in  the  aggregate 
lift,  while  the;  ■  general  incline  is  an  al- 
tiiost  oontinuouh  descent  in  the  direction 
of  the  seabord.     This  will   greatly    facjli- 


tftfe  the  transportation  of  the  heavy 
freight  which  is  all  destined  to  go  that 
way. " 

The  gist  and  main  force  of  the  argu- 
ment for  the  route  via  the  Dead  River 
and  Carrabassett  valleys  to  Wiacasset  is 
that  it  is  the  shortest  and  most  prnctioa- 
blo  outlet  of  the  great  Pacific  line  to  the 
Atlaatic — that  the  distance  via  this  route 
from  Quebec  to  Wiscasset  is  250  miles, 
while  the  distance  from  Quebec  to  Hali- 
fax is  700  miles.  To  the  financial  mana- 
gers of  the  great  0  tuadiau  Pacific  whose 
vast  network  of  interest  stretch  to  China 
and  Japan,  as  well  as  the  rich  domains  of 
the  Southern  Pacific,  the  shortest  cut  to 
the  Atlantic  is  of  controlling  importance. 
The  lessenmg  of  the  distancje  is  the  sav- 
ing of  just  so  much  gold  in  the  building, 
running  expenses,  and  freight  cost  of 
their  road.  Clearly,  this  route  from  Me- 
gantic Lake  in  the  sweep  of  its  command- 
ing importance  transcends  all  local  inter- 
ests and  prejudices  and  rises  to  the  Itjvel 
of  a  State  enterprise,  around  vhich  all 
party  passions  should  be  hushed,  all  per- 
sonal aims  disregarded,  to  which  should 
be  given  the  generous  and  hearty  encour- 
agement of  nil  who  care  for  the  future 
prosperity  and  the  commercial  welfare  of 
Maine. 


)l--3Jr^ 


